Page 101 of The Pact

I yawn, struggling to keep my eyes open. “You’d want me to be your girlfriend even with them still in the picture?”

His kisses the top of my head. “I love them like brothers, cutie. As long as they want you and you them, I’ll never ask you to choose. But I care about you and I want to make sure that you know that this isn’t just a game for me anymore. Be mine?”

“Yes,” I whisper, unable to contain the smile that spreads on my lips.

Ashton yawns too. “Just do me a favor though. Make sure you tell Kelley and Shep, please. Sooner rather than later.”

I know he’s right and I promise I will but later. Right now I really need to close my eyes.

22.

Winning And Losing

––––––––

Ausra

––––––––

THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND

My phone alerts me that Kelley and the guys are outside, waiting for me to head together to LA.

The week has flown by between a few shifts at the library, another heated encounter with Ashton when he confirmed to me that sex can feel amazing, and what I can only describe as a date with Bode.

He picked me up after work and took me to a nice restaurant over the water. We went for a walk on the beach, holding hands under the moonlight and talking about the weekend. He mentioned my dad and that he and Ashton agreed that I should accept to “help him” secure his business deal with Mr. Reynolds. “Ash knows that you aren’t hanging out with him with an agenda and his father isn’t an idiot. He’ll never make a deal that isn’t lucrative for him. So we don’t see why you should miss out on a great job and a free education.”

That was the only hint that he and Ash had talked about me after the night of the party. If he knew about what happened between me and his best friend that night, he didn’t talk about it.

He kissed me good night on my doorstep but he didn’t try to invite himself in.

“Mc!” I yell, stepping into our tiny living room with my packed bag. “I’m going. See you on Sunday night?”

My sister is trying to feed a very fussy, crying Skye. “Have fun, sweetie.”

I kiss Skye, noticing that she’s very warm. “Is another tooth coming out? She burned my lips.”

---